Stella Parton says her sister Dolly Parton stayed quiet about her cancer diagnosis until the very end because she "could not bear negative things," and didn't want the people she loved carrying that weight.
In her first sit-down interview since Dolly's death, Stella told CBS Mornings' Gayle King that even close relatives were kept in the dark. Only the family members nearest to Dolly knew what she was facing, while many others learned only after she was gone.
Dolly Parton died Aug. 25 in Nashville at age 80, following what her team described as a brief battle with cancer. The news blindsided fans worldwide, since her health struggles had never been publicly disclosed before her passing.
Stella explained that the secrecy came from love, not concealment for its own sake. Dolly didn't want her millions of fans burdened with worry, and she hoped her family could stay focused on joy rather than fear during her final months. Stella believes Dolly would have been deeply moved by the global wave of tributes and prayers that followed her death - proof, in Stella's eyes, of how much her family and closest friends truly cared.
Dolly's own life and music were shaped by a lasting faith, from her gospel recordings to her frequent reminders that love should outweigh fear in hard seasons. In the weeks since her passing, fans and fellow artists across the Christian and country music communities have continued lifting the Parton family up in prayer.
Related Article: Richie Owens, Dolly Parton's Cousin, Breaks Silence: Why She Hid Her Cancer From Family
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